Rooftop Eclipse Viewing in Milwaukee

Gathered together on a large rooftop with black polymer film glasses and drinks nearby, several made connections while viewing a natural phenomenon. 

The BizStarts Community Market held a viewing party ‘Total Eclipse of BizStarts’ for the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024 in Milwaukee. Viewers gathered on the non-profit organization’s rooftop space from 12:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the chance to network, connect and enjoy beverages together.

The registered event cost $7 per person and provided event goers with solar eclipse glasses and a free beverage of choice. The theme was “create cosmic connections under the eclipse,” according to the upcoming events page. 

The organization is a community market and coffee shop that helps under served communities and people grow and start their own businesses through educational programming and markets, according to BizStarts operations worker Lily Dysart.

The eclipse viewing party was a part of event programming designed by fellow BizStarts Entrepreneurs in order to establish and gain product and business data through ‘retail lab’ testing by opening the doors to the public. 

“It’s for the Milwaukee community to come through and see local products and lift up their local community members,” said Dysart. 

Milwaukee was outside of the eclipse’s direct path of totality, but viewers were still able to see the partial solar eclipse from home, according to data from the National Weather Service. 

“We have a rooftop and we want to get people together,” said Dysart. “And it’s a super cool environment and experience, and we might as well just bring everyone together.”

Tolu Ojesina is a BizStarts entrepreneur and local business owner of Modaheadwraps, an African print head wrap and bonnet fashion accessory line. This is her third time seeing an eclipse and she looked forward to witnessing the natural phenomenon once again. 

“I love it,” said Ojesina. “I’m enjoying it, I’m just trying to get my phone to behave so I can get some cool shots.” 

The BizStarts Community Market’s slogan is ‘Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship’ and offers a variety of tools and resources for local entrepreneurs based in southeastern Wisconsin which has been active since 2008.

The community space holds a strong emphasis on 1:1 coaching, mentoring and community networking for business and more. Although the organization has been active for over twelve years, the shop’s building itself is still fairly new and opened in October of 2023, according to BizStarts Education Manager Reynaldo Rivera. It is located on 161 south 1st St in Suite 100 in Milwaukee. 

“Anytime there’s an event or there’s something happening we look for ways for entrepreneurs to network,” said Rivera. “Network gain is the way for them to get to know more people, show their businesses around. If they have something new going on we can catch up with them, and it’s a fun way – it’s a perfect excuse to get together by watching the eclipse. They have coffee and they get to see the store and it’s a way to bring the community together.” 

Twenty-five people registered for the public event and gathered on the small rooftop space eagerly awaiting the moon-cast shadow covering the earth’s surface, according to Rivera. The viewing party serves as the organization’s kickoff to regular and upcoming event-programming. 

Jessica Tassoul is a BizStarts cohort member who attended the watch party and heard about the event via @bizstartscommunitymarket Instagram. She looked forward to attending because of the cool rooftop and coffee which she felt heightened the viewing experience. 

“I don’t know what I expected,” said Tassoul. “But looking at it, it’s actually like really cool to see it progressing. And I can’t wait until – I don’t know what it is at 2:08, when it’s fully there.”

The eclipse concluded around 3:21 p.m., according to BizStarts community members. The programming for the event is just one of many upcoming and public events featuring program series and more that will be hosted at the local space.